Anecdotes of Distinguished Persons: Chiefly of the Present and Two Preceding ...

" This learned Prelate,” says Wilson, “ was “ of a comely and stately presence; and that, « animated with a great mind, made him appear “ very proud to the vulgar eye; but that very “ temper raised him to aim at great things, 66 which he effected : for the old ruinous body o of the Abbey-church of Westminster was new “ clothed by him ; the fair and beautiful Library 66 of St. John's in Cambridge was a pile of his “ erection; and a very complete Chapel built “ by him at Lincoln College in Oxford (merely c for the name of Lincoln, having no interest 66 in nor relation to that University); these,” observes Wilson, “ were arguments of a great “ mind : how far from ostentation * (in this " frail body of flesh) cannot now be detet66 mined, because the benefit of publique actions “ smooths every shore that piles up the build

66 ing.

“ But that," continues Wilson, 6 which os heightened him most in the opinion of those 66 who knew him best, was his bountiful mind 66 to men in want, he being a great patron to « support, where there was merit that wanted “ supply; amongst the rest M. du Moulin † (a

66 very

* Tacitus says, “ Contemptâ famæ virtutes contemnuntur.”

+ Pierre de Moulin, a celebrated Protestant Minister in France, author of many books on religious controversy. He

came

so very famous Protestant Minister of France) " in the persecution there driven into England “ for refuge. The Bishop hearing of him, “ spoke to Dr. Hacket, his Chaplain, to make 6 him a visit from him; and because, faith he, I " think the man may be in want in a strange “ country, carry him some money (not naming " the sum; because he would sounde the depth “ of his Chaplain's minde). Doctor Hacket, “ finding the Bishop nominate no proportion, “ told him he could not give him leffe than “ twenty pounds. I did demurre upon the “ fum, said the Bishop, to try you. Is twenty

pounds a gift for me to give a man of his

parts and deserts ? Take a hundred pounds, “ and present it to him from me, and tell him “ he shall not want, and I will come shortly and “ visit him myself. Which he after performed, " and made good his promise in fupplying him “ during his abode in England.”

According to Wilson, “ After a speech of “ James the First to his Parliament, the Lord “ Keeper Williams, Bishop of Lincoln, and « Speaker of the House of Peers, (who always “ uses to make the King's mind be further

came to England in the year 1615, with a plan of a general union of all the Protestant churches. The University of Leyden offered him their Divinity Professorship, which he refused. He died in 1658, at the age of 90. VOL. I.

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“ known
“ known if there be cause,) told the Houses of “ Lords and Commons, that after the eloquent “ speech of his Majesty, he would not say any. " thing ; for as one of the Spartan Kings, being « alked whether he would not willingly hear a 6 man that counterfeited the voice of a nightin66 gale to the life, made answer, that he had “ heard the nightingale ; so, for him to repeat « or rehearse what the King had said, was (ac“ cording to the Latin proverb) to enamel a “ gold ring with studs of iron. He doubted “ not but that the King's speech, like the Ora« tions of Æschines, had left in their minds a “ sting; and as an Historian said of Nerva, that “ having adopted Trajan, he was immediately as taken away, ne post divinum et immortale fac6 tum, aliquid mortale faceret, so he could not “ dare, after his Majesties divinum et immortale 66 dictum, mortale aliquid addere.

6 This is not inserted,” adds the acute and neglected Historian, “ to shew the pregnancy 6 and genius of the man, but the temper of the < times, wherein men made themselves less than “ men, by making Kings little less than Gods. “ In this the Spanish bravery is much to be ad“ mired, and the French do not much come « short of them, who do not idolize their Kings 6 with Sacred, Sovereign, Immortal, and ora6 culous expressions, but in their humblest peti.

66 tions

- His e ela

« tions give him the title Sir, tell him their bu« finess, and demand justice of him. But where “ these adulations are admitted, though it doth « not strike suddenly into some incurable disso ease, yet the same hand can make them con« fume, and in the end waste to nothing."

JAMES HOWELL, Esq.

This learned writer took up his pen very early in the disputes between Charles and his Parliament. He wrote several pamphlets on the side of the King. In one of them, called “ The “ Land of Ire,” he has this observation : .

" Touching the originals of Government and 6. Ruling Power, questionless the first amongst " mankind was that natural power of the father « over his children, and that despotical superin« tendance of a master of a house over his fa“ mily. But the world multiplying to such a « mass of people, they found that a confused “ equality and a loose unbridled way of living :“ like brute animals to be so inconvenient, that " they chose one person to protect and govern, “ not so much out of love to that person, as for “ their own conveniency and advantage, that “ they might live more regularly, and be se

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66 cured

“ cured from rapine and oppression; as also, er that justice might be administered, and every “ one enjoy his own without fear and danger. “ Such Governors had a power invested in " them accordingly; also to appoint subser“ vient able Ministers under them, to help to “ bear the burden."

Mr. Howell, in his “ Italian Prospective,” thus describes the situation of England during the time of the Republic:

“ The King's subjects,” says he, “ are now “ become perfect slaves ; they have fooled them. “ selves into a worse slavery than Jew or Greek «r under the Ottomans, for they know the bot“ tom of their servitude by paying so many “ Sultanesses for every head, but here in Eng“ land people are now put to endless unknown “ tyrannical taxes, besides plundering and accise, 66 which two words, and the practice of them, " (with storming of towns,) they have learnt of " their pure brethren of Holland. And for plun“ derings, these Parliamenteer Saints think they " may rob any that adheres to them as lawfully " as the Jews did the Egyptians! 'Tis an unfom. « mable masle of money these Reformers have « squandered in a few years, whereof they have 66 often promis'd, and solemnly voted, a public "account to satisfie the kingdom; but as in a